Govt moves to set up directorate for victims of enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings

The government has moved to establish a dedicated directorate under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs for victims of enforced disappearance, torture and extrajudicial killings and their families.

The proposed directorate would oversee rehabilitation, medical treatment, legal protection and welfare assistance, according to discussions at an inter-ministerial meeting at the ministry on Sunday.

Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan chaired the meeting, attended by State Minister Eshrak Hossain and ministry Secretary Md Ashraful Islam.

The government also plans to formulate a law covering the rights and compensation of victims and amend the Rules of Business, 1996, to formally place the responsibilities under the Liberation War Affairs Ministry.

Recognition for victims

Khan said the state had already formally recognised those affected by the July Mass Uprising and established the July Mass Uprising Directorate.

The government now intends to extend state recognition to people who suffered during what he described as prolonged movements to restore democracy.

The proposed framework would cover victims of enforced disappearance, torture and extrajudicial killings, as well as people who lost their eyesight, sustained permanent disabilities or spent years in prison after being implicated in cases the government describes as false.

Khan said the initiative was intended both to support victims and their families and to formally recognise their sacrifices.

He said institutional safeguards were also necessary to prevent similar abuses in the future.

Three-pronged plan

Officials identified three areas for action: establishing the directorate, drafting legislation on victims’ rights and compensation, and amending the Rules of Business to bring the responsibilities under the ministry.

The meeting discussed developing the framework in line with Bangladesh’s Constitution and the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation.

Officials said the proposed system would go beyond financial compensation to include medical care, legal protection, welfare support and rehabilitation.

State Minister Eshrak Hossain said the principles of the 1971 Liberation War included individual freedom, protection of human rights, an end to state coercion and a democratic system based on voting rights.

He alleged those principles had been undermined since 2009 through the denial of voting rights and state-sponsored enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Hossain said the government was seeking to determine how the state should support people who lost their lives, suffered abuse or disappearance, or faced severe financial hardship while participating in movements for democratic rights.

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